re: Louisiana Tropical Fruit Gardening - Experiences and Updates

Can’t believe I had to get my greenhouse back up and heater and all, as well as cover some of the potted flowers I didn’t want to bring inside.
Good thing I fertilized my garden soil late and didn’t get any vegetables in the ground just yet.

And while it’s hard to bitch about this beautiful weather, it’s a bit of a pain in the arse right now.


My Mamey is definitely coming back alive. I’ll get some pics of it.
Also ordered some star fruit and got that in last week. Those pics tigerlaff of his looked delicious. Had to get some.

All my trees are just turning a year old so I’m still not looking to bear any fruit this spring/summer. Pruning for green growth.

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Would i be making a huge mistake by getting the natives?

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Unless you plan to graft later, yes I think it would be a mistake. Seedling pawpaws run the risk of being complete garbage. Sellers are making a killing on pawpaw seedlings right now because the public doesn't know any better. What I look for are locally native pawpaws from my area. I know that they can survive here in the wild and thus make good rootstock. I can then graft on top of them.

Pulled the trigger this morning on a Big Jim loquat and Suebelle white sapote from Gala, both grafted. Picked up a few new figs this past weekend to add to the collection - LSU Hollier, Violet Sepor, Black Celeste, LSU St Gabriel, CDD Mutante, and a few other new cuttings. I think that puts me around 25 different figs. Plan to pick up a Kary starfruit and Ruby Supreme guava later this year. Will definitely need to set up some form of heated greenhouse in my shop for next winter.

I ordered a Kara Starfruit this week. I’m new to figs but am going to get 1-2 this weekend. I already have one brown turkey fig. Any suggestions?

There are 3 main taste profiles - sugar, berry, and honey. Most people in Louisiana grew up on Celeste or brown turkey (both sugar figs) because it’s what was growing in mawmaw’s yard. I have personal experience with all types mentioned below as in ground trees and all handle humid conditions great. These are all in-ground trees.

Honey: Galbun, by far my favorite honey fig, large fruit size, vigorous tree. Smith is a mix of honey and berry - highly resistant to rain and great flavor.


Sugar: Improved Celeste, more berry flavor than regular Celeste but I would still group it in the sugar fig profile. Also larger fruit than regular Celeste. It would be considered a very good fig by most people.

Berry: My favorite flavor profile. Adriatic figs have a greenish skin with reddish flesh - White Madeira #1 or LSU Strawberry. Dark skin with dark flesh - many of these have splitting problems in high humidity (Black Madeira, some Col de Dames, I-258). I’ve had great success with Malta Black (Mt Etna type fig - these taste great and don’t split. Noire de berbentane, LSU Scott’s Black are also very good.

I’ll be able to taste about 10 new varieties this year (planted last fall). If I could only plant 1 and I already had a sugar fig, it would be hard not to go with a Smith or some type of Mt Etna like Malta Black or St Rita. Malta Black was my family’s favorite last year. Malta Black also produces a breba crop on old wood then produces a main crop on new growth.

I propagate figs every year. Would be happy to share if you aren’t too far away. I have several rooted cuttings that I’ll be growing out all year in pots.

With all the help you provide everyone on this thread I’d be happy to ship you a rooted cutting for free. They will be ready to ship before the temps get too high. Ping me on this thread in early May and we can exchange info.

What size Pumice does everyone get? 1/4? 3/8? 1/2?

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What size Pumice does everyone get? 1/4? 3/8? 1/2?

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1/4" would be best.